Masters of the Universe: 4K UHD Review

When I think of 1987’s Masters of the Universe, I can’t help but think about the fall of Cannon Films. I grew up watching—and loving—Cannon’s low-budget releases. Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson, Michael Dudikoff, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and, of course, Lucinda Dickey were all members of the Cannon tribe.

What changed in 1987 was Cannon’s attempt to move into the big leagues. The studio began paying major stars like Sylvester Stallone enormous salaries for movies such as Over the Top while acquiring recognizable IP, including Superman and, of course, Masters of the Universe. The problem was that Cannon simply didn’t have the budgets to deliver the kind of big Hollywood entertainment these properties demanded. As a result, their would-be blockbusters often felt cheap, underwhelming, and disappointing.

I’ll be the first to admit that Masters of the Universe is considerably better than Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. That said, very little about the movie actually works, with the notable exception of Frank Langella’s Skeletor, who seems to be having an absolute blast. Despite its many flaws, I still find the film entertaining, thanks in large part to its undeniable ’80s charm—even if the 2026 version is, admittedly, a whole lot better.

Masters of the Universe opens on the planet Eternia, where Skeletor (Langella) has seized control of Castle Grayskull, the center of power in the universe. He has also taken the Sorceress (Christina Pickles) prisoner. The only ones standing between Skeletor and complete domination are He-Man (Dolph Lundgren), Man-At-Arms (Jon Cypher), and his daughter Teela (Chelsea Field). Along for the ride is Gwildor (Billy Barty), the inventor of the Cosmic Key, which can open portals to virtually anywhere in the universe.

While Skeletor possesses the completed key, Gwildor still has the prototype, which accidentally transports He-Man and his companions to Earth. Skeletor wants the second key—and He-Man as his prisoner—and he will stop at nothing to get both.

Most of the movie takes place in small-town America, which obviously helped Cannon keep the budget under control. The most impressive production design, however, can be found inside Castle Grayskull. Courtney Cox had already appeared on television, but this was essentially her first major feature film role, and she is perfectly fine here. One of the better performances comes from Meg Foster as Evil-Lyn. She can be a little stiff, but Foster brings a sinister presence to the character that works.

James Tolkan, best known for Back to the Future, does what James Tolkan does best: play a hard-ass authority figure—in this case, a detective who wouldn’t feel out of place barking orders in a high school hallway. The numerous battles are largely uninspired, and the special effects have definitely seen better days, but there is still enough ’80s Cannon charm here to make the movie an entertaining time capsule.

The new 2160p presentation from Toy Robot Video is a massive improvement over Warner Bros.’ original Blu-ray release. Both cuts of the film—the Theatrical Version and Preview Version—are presented with HDR and Dolby Vision. The new restoration delivers a significantly sharper image with noticeably greater detail. Some of the creature makeup effects look particularly impressive, while the downtown locations on Earth have a much richer appearance, even though much of the movie is photographed at night.

Audio options include DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and 5.1 tracks. I would definitely recommend the 5.1 mix, which gives the battle sequences considerably more impact and also allows Bill Conti’s score to shine. The score is easily one of the film’s strongest elements.

If you’re a fan of Masters of the Universe, you’ll no doubt want to add this release to your collection. The new restoration is a substantial upgrade, and the package also features the fantastic original poster artwork on the cover. For a movie that represents both the ambition and excess of Cannon Films at its peak, it’s nice to finally see Masters of the Universe get the presentation it deserves.

Bonus Materials: